Chapter 52: Handing Over the Household Management

Jun Zijin stroked the Old Madam’s back and said softly:

"Grandmother, please don't be angry."

Seeing that even the Old Madam knew about this, Jun Yiyi was so frightened that she kept her head lowered, not daring to speak. The Old Madam did not much like how Jun Yiyi was so young yet so complex and duplicitous; Jun Yiyi had been a little afraid of the Old Madam since she was small.

The First Madam was terrified that Jun Yiyi would be unable to hold up and sell her out again. Her heart was pounding, and she kept signaling to Jun Yiyi with her eyes, but even though the First Madam’s eyes were blinking until they cramped, Jun Yiyi kept her head down and never saw a thing.

"Old Madam, is there any need to ask? How could a young girl like the eldest miss have such filthy things? It must have been given to her by the First Madam."

As soon as Li entered the door and heard the Old Madam’s question, she spoke without a second thought. Her daughter was about to marry into the Imperial Prince’s residence, so she was no longer as afraid of the First Branch as she once was.

The First Madam could not listen to such words: "Li, do not spit blood and frame me. Why would I give Yiyi such things? It is you who are so impatient to frame me; I fear you have a guilty conscience."

Li sneered:

"Why must the First Madam quibble? This thing appeared with the eldest miss; if not you, then who? Could it be that the eldest miss obtained it herself?"

At this moment, Jun Zijin, who had not yet spoken, said slowly: "Mother, this matter concerns me and my third sister. Since you are the person with the greatest suspicion, in order to prove your innocence, you surely won't stop us from searching your room, will you?"

The Old Madam nodded: "The second girl speaks with reason. Wang Mama, take people to search Cuiyu Courtyard. Search it thoroughly, inside and out."

The First Madam had not expected this wretched girl to directly demand a search of her room, and she was unwilling to agree. However, she was stunned for just a split second, and that moment of hesitation caused her to miss her chance; the Old Madam had already given the order.

The First Madam only felt an ominous premonition surge into her heart. Although she had long since disposed of that medicine, people were now entering her room, and there was no guarantee that other mishaps wouldn't occur.

This was precisely Jun Zijin’s goal. With the First Madam’s scheming nature, it was impossible for her to keep the evidence in her own room for someone to find so easily, but there was no guarantee that something else wouldn't be found. Jun Zijin was certain that there were some things the First Madam would never leave in anyone else’s hands.

Jun Zijin gave Xiao He a look. Xiao He understood and quietly withdrew.

Over there, Wang Mama was seen leading a group of servants as they stormed into the First Madam’s room aggressively, beginning to rummage through chests and cabinets without a word. The group searched every corner, yet they did not find a trace of the legendary medicine.

Just when everyone thought the search would end in vain, Xiao He suddenly let out a cry of surprise. It turned out she had "accidentally" discovered a wooden box under the First Madam’s bed. Xiao He dragged it out, and upon opening it, she saw several account books neatly arranged inside.

Xiao He "curiously" flipped through one of them at random. After flipping through a few pages, her eyes lit up and the corners of her mouth curled. Heh, there was likely quite a bit of trickery in here! Even if the First Madam didn't fall flat on her face this time, she would likely lose a layer of skin. The Young Lady was right; only a fool would pass up a good show, so why hesitate? Xiao He raised her voice and shouted to Wang Mama, who was busy searching:

"Wang Mama, come take a look at these account books. I feel like there is something strange about them..."

Wang Mama picked up an account book and began to read, her heart greatly shocked:

"Good heavens, so all the silver in the residence has been used to fill the holes of her Wu family! This matter is no small thing; it must be reported to the Old Madam immediately!"

Wang Mama hugged the box and ran all the way to the front hall.

Before long, Wang Mama arrived at the front hall, panting for breath. She could not spare the time to wipe the bean-sized beads of sweat from her forehead and hurriedly bowed:

"Old Madam, this old servant failed to find the medicine, but I did find this." Having said that, Wang Mama leaned into the Old Madam’s ear and whispered a few words.

Upon hearing this, the Old Madam was stunned for a moment, then her face revealed a look of astonishment:

"There is such a thing?"

The Old Madam took an account book from Wang Mama’s arms and began to flip through it. The more she read, the more alarmed she became, and her expression grew increasingly grave.

"Zhengming, come and take a look." The Old Madam suppressed the anger in her heart and turned to say to Jun Zhengming.

The moment Wang Mama entered with that box, the First Madam, who had been sitting on her chair feeling restless and uneasy, felt her heart sink. She knew something bad was going to happen. She stared fixedly at the box in Wang Mama’s hands, her eyes revealing an undisguisable nervousness.

At this moment, the First Madam felt her frantic heartbeat like the sound of drums, as if it were about to burst through her chest. Her palms were already slick with a thin layer of sweat, and her fingers were unconsciously gripping the corner of her clothes. But she had to pretend to be calm; she subconsciously took a deep breath, slightly raised her chin, and straightened her back, not letting others see the panic in her heart.

Jun Zhengming, unaware of the situation, took the account book and examined it closely. He saw records of how the First Madam had embezzled public funds to subsidize her maiden family, with huge amounts and secretive methods. The more Jun Zhengming read, the more shocked and angry he became, and his hands began to tremble involuntarily.

"Vile woman!" Jun Zhengming grabbed the teacup in front of him and smashed it at the First Madam.

With a "crack," the teacup hit the First Madam squarely on the forehead, and blood appeared immediately.

The First Madam let out an "ow" of pain. Ignoring the blood flowing down her head, she knelt down with a thud and pleaded:

"Master, this concubine knows she was wrong. It was just that my maiden family was truly in difficulty at the time, and I was confused for a moment and committed this error. I beg the Master to show mercy."

"No wonder there was never any money in the public coffers! Last year, when repairing the Old Madam’s courtyard, you said there was no money. When the Old Madam needed medicine and tonics, you also said there was no money. When the second girl returned to the residence to host guests, you also said there was no money. So all the money was with your maiden family!" Jun Zhengming felt the veins on his forehead throbbing.

"Back then, when your maiden family fell into misfortune, I kept you in the outer courtyard, fished your father and brother out of prison, and bought them houses and land to settle them. How did you repay me? No wonder your idle brother could afford to buy an official position and concubines; so that was it. You poisonous woman, not only did you treat my legitimate daughter poorly, but you also hollowed out my Jun family. Why didn't you think of Yiyi? What use do I have for a mistress of the house like you?"

Years ago, the Wu father and son were imprisoned for corruption, and their family fortunes declined. The two Wu sisters sold songs in an art house. The elder Wu met Jun Zhengming and became his concubine. It was Jun Zhengming who fished her father and brother out of prison and bought a few acres of land in the suburbs of Jingcheng to settle the Wu family. Although they were not wealthy, it was more than enough to make a living. Later, the Wu family opened a few shops to do business, and that lazy brother of the Wu woman actually bought an official position as a Registrar of the Directorate for Weapons and bought a large house in Jingcheng, taking several concubines.

"Master! I beg you to spare this lowly concubine this once! I did this for Yiyi’s sake!" The First Madam was dumbfounded. She admitted to all the charges Jun Zhengming listed, but as for the legitimate daughter, Jun Yiyi was also a legitimate daughter. When had she ever treated Jun Yiyi poorly? She had only wanted her daughter to have a stronger maternal family.

"Is this how you do it for her own good?" Jun Zhengming’s eyes were devoid of any emotion as he stared straight at the First Madam.

"I will divorce you today!"

Hearing the words "divorce the wife," the First Madam felt as if she had been struck by lightning and collapsed to the floor. The maids and nannies nearby were so frightened they dared not even breathe.

At this time, Jun Yiyi, who had been in a daze, rushed over:

"Father, although Mother was wrong, I beg you to give her another chance."

Jun Zhengming snorted coldly:

"Do not plead for her; what she has done is unforgivable."

"Master, this concubine is willing to sell all her private property to fill the deficit in the public coffers. From now on, I will surely manage the household with all my heart and will never commit such an error again," the Wu woman pleaded.

Hearing this, Jun Zijin sneered in her heart. Who didn't know how the Wu woman had entered the Jun residence in the first place? Where would she have any private property?

"Father, if you divorce Mother, how will your daughter face others in the future? Besides, Mother only wanted to ensure your daughter had something to rely on in the future," Jun Yiyi also pleaded, her face covered in tears.

Jun Zhengming looked at Jun Yiyi, who was crying like a flower in the rain, and his heart softened; he was somewhat shaken.

Jun Zijin, having seen enough of the show, sneered in her heart and spoke softly:

"Father, why not let Mother hand over the management of the household and spare her this time?" If Jun Zhengming had simply divorced the Wu woman today, it wouldn't have been so easy; the original owner had suffered for six years at the farm and had even lost her life.

Jun Zhengming gave Jun Zijin a look with an unreadable meaning. After a moment of contemplation, he said slowly:

"Very well. Wu woman, your errors this time are temporarily noted. If there are any more mishaps, I will certainly not be lenient. But you can no longer manage the Jun residence’s household affairs under any circumstances. You will hand over the management to Mother, and from today on, you will reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors in Cuiyu Courtyard. You are not to come out without my permission."

The First Madam’s face was full of unwillingness. Handing over the household management—was that not the same as taking her life? But thinking that handing over the management was better than being divorced by Jun Zhengming, after some calculation, the First Madam could only suppress all her unwillingness.

The Old Madam spoke slowly:

"Wu woman, hand over the keys to the public coffers and all the account books."

"Mother, my mother’s dowry and the shops that came with her marriage are also in your hands. Please return them all to me today, so that you don't accidentally include them when you are selling your private property."